A 14-year-old girl died after being left alone to harm herself at a mental health hospital in England, even though she was supposed to have round-the-clock care, according to reports.
Ruth Szymankiewicz was found injured in her room at Huntercombe Hospital, near Maidenhead, on February 12, 2022, according to the BBC, Sky News, and The Guardian. She died two days later at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
The hospital, run by Active Care Group, has now permanently closed.
According to the BBC, an inquest jury at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court concluded that Ruth, from Salisbury, was unlawfully killed after being left alone at the hospital for about 15 minutes.
Ruth, who was being treated for an eating disorder, had been transferred to the hospital in October 2021, per the BBC.
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The teenager was on the Thames Ward, a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU), and Sky News reported that CCTV footage showed her in the television room with her support worker, Ebo Achempong, in her final moments.
Achempong was reportedly hired by an agency using a false name and fake documents. He allegedly left Ruth alone multiple times, even though she needed constant supervision. He has since reportedly returned to Ghana.
On the night Ruth was fatally injured, CCTV showed her going to her bedroom around 8 p.m. after her support worker left the TV room, according to the BBC.
The inquest revealed that the unit was often understaffed. On the day Ruth harmed herself, half of the staff were agency workers. She also had access to harmful content online, which was not prevented, Sky News reported.
The jury said the care Ruth received was “not suitable nor conducive” to her recovery. Factors contributing to her death included poorly trained staff and visiting rules that allowed only one family member at a time, per the BBC.
The hospital had been rated inadequate in February 2021 and later marked as “requires improvement” in September 2021 by the Care Quality Commission (BBC).
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) told PEOPLE, “Our deepest sympathies are with Ruth’s family and friends. This is a shocking case and it is clear that care at the Huntercombe Hospital fell far below the standards we expect.”
The statement added, “Young people with mental health issues have not been getting the care they need. The department has instructed the NHS to prioritize increasing the availability of mental health beds.”
The department also said it is investing almost $102 million this year “to reduce inappropriate out-of-area placements so patients can receive care closer to home.”
Thames Valley Police said, “Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this death, our enquiries have concluded and the death is now a matter for His Majesty’s Coroner. Our thoughts remain with Ruth’s family.”
Ruth’s parents, Kate and Mark Szymankiewicz, spoke outside Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court. Mark said, “When at our most vulnerable as a family we reached out for help. We ultimately found ourselves trapped in a system that was meant to care for her, to help her, to keep her safe but instead locked her away and harmed her.”
Kate added, “There is an empty space at our table, a silent bedroom in our home, and a gaping hole in our family that will never be filled.”
The Active Care Group expressed condolences, saying, “We deeply regret the tragic event and are truly sorry for the distress this has caused. We have made significant improvements to the quality and safety in all of our services.”
